RainMachine Touch HD Smart Irrigation Controller Review
If you have a lawn or plants you need to irrigate on a regular basis, then investing in a smart irrigation controller is a great way to save time and money.
When I looked for the best irrigation controller to buy, I settled on the RainMachine Touch HD.
Pros
Remote Access
With the RainMachine app, you can easily access your irrigation settings remotely. In addition to adjusting schedules, you can turn the sprinklers on and off with just a click on the app.
One nice feature with the app is that you can take photos of different zones, so you can easily identify them and don’t have to just memorize zone numbers.
Smart Home Connectivity
RainMachine includes support for both Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit.
Onboard Controls
You can easily control the settings via the touchscreen interface. This means you don’t have to use the app for everything.
This is useful when you don’t have your phone on you or someone else without app access needs to access the controller.
Automation
Rainmachine pulls local climate data from various databases automatically and can automatically adjust irrigation times, for example to take rainfall totals into account. This can help you save money.
And it doesn’t just stop there. You can also allow for extra watering on hot days or restrict watering when there are freezing temperatures.
Cons
Cost
The RainMachine Touch HD comes in 2 versions. The version that supports 12 zones retails for about $260. The one for 16 zones is only $10 more and retails for about $270. Either way, that is rather pricey.
That said, it is a very reliable product and something that does not require a subscription service like some other companies in the smart home space.
Complexity
This is both a good thing and a bad thing. The Rainmachine app includes a host of features you can adjust.
Unfortunately, the high level of sophistication also makes it a bit clumsy to use. I feel Rainmachine needs to do more to improve the user interface and make it easier to use.
Takeaways
I have had my RainMachine Touch HD for several years now and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone else looking to buy a reliable smart irrigation controller.
